{"id":60723,"date":"2018-01-05T18:00:23","date_gmt":"2018-01-05T23:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/how-to-focus-on-self-care-in-2018\/"},"modified":"2018-01-05T18:00:23","modified_gmt":"2018-01-05T23:00:23","slug":"how-to-focus-on-self-care-in-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/how-to-focus-on-self-care-in-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"How to focus on self-care in 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to focus on self-care in 2018<\/b><\/p>\n

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Defining self-care <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Self-care. We hear it everyday, we know those who swear by it, but some of us are still a little stumped about what self-care looks like. Self-care is often mischaracterized as an indulgence, but we should really view it as a tool to keep us\u00a0empowered and holistically healthy.<\/p>\n

With a new year ahead of us and political and social tensions high across the country, it is no surprise that many people are stressed out this season.\u00a0So let\u2019s start\u00a0by defining exactly what self-care means: the care and keeping of yourself- physically, mentally and emotionally.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to think of these three fields as a Venn diagram or triangle. We want to focus on maintaining all three, rather than sticking to just one or two points. When we neglect one area of the triangle, we feel out of whack.<\/p>\n

Queer self-care<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As most LGBTQIA+ identifying persons know, going home\u00a0around the holidays can be tough. Family members don\u2019t always accept who you are, or they try to but still make offensive comments, or they don\u2019t really know how you identify at all.<\/p>\n

To be better equipped to process feeling ostracized or misunderstood this season, it\u2019s imperative that we practice self-care to prevent any low moods or breakdowns.<\/p>\n

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What self-care looks like for you<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By this point you\u2019re probably asking, what does self-care look like for me? Begin this process with a simple question: what are my needs\u00a0and how can I meet them?<\/em><\/p>\n

No matter what your self-care looks like, it always boils down to meeting your personal needs. So, how do we identify our needs? According to the Crisis Text Line<\/a>, there are three steps to planning for self-care methods: identifying the problem, starting to plan, and taking action.<\/p>\n

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1. Identify the Problem<\/strong> – what do you anticipate as being a problem or stressor for you on this day?<\/em>
2. Start Planning<\/strong> – what can you do to take care of yourself during this stressful time? What are you not doing that you should be?<\/em>
3. Take Action<\/strong> – follow\u00a0through with your safety plan.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Sometimes, self-care is about simple maintenance. It can be as little as trying to floss everyday or eating meals properly. Sometimes, it\u2019s a bit bigger, like taking a walk everyday to reduce stress and release endorphins. Other ways to practice self-care may include doing some of your favorite activities to lift your mood- like listening to music, playing with a pet, or writing in a journal.<\/p>\n

Here are a few examples of what self-care might look like for you:<\/p>\n

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